Motor Car Show

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as 1000's flocked to the Central Florida International Auto Show this weekend to check out the latest rides. At the Orange County Convention Center, car shoppers had several options -- from big trucks to flashy sports cars.

The auto show also featured the latest hybrids as well as an "auto show green trail" with the newest alternative fuel vehicles.

Despite the troubled economy, 30 percent of enthusiasts who attended the car show said the price of gas would not influence what car they decide to buy. More than half said they hope to own a new car within the next year.

The auto show opened on Thanksgiving and will run through Sunday. Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Safe Landing

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as the space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth touchdown Friday to end an "amazing" flight that resupplied the International Space Station.

Within a few hours of landing, the astronauts feasted on turkey and trimmings with their families.

"You go see the doc, you get a turkey dinner. It's a pain," commander Charles Hobaugh told reporters with a smile.

The new father on the crew, Randolph Bresnik, bolted out of NASA's spaceport when the meal was over. He flew home to Houston a day ahead of his crewmates so he could see his newborn daughter and wife, who gave birth Saturday.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

No Space Turkey

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as the space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts will spend Thanksgiving checking their ship for the ride home. The shuttle and its crew of seven are aiming for a Friday morning landing at NASA's Florida spaceport. Good weather is forecast.

The astronauts will test Atlantis' flight systems Thursday morning, take questions from TV reporters and then settle down to a holiday meal.

Commander Charles Hobaugh didn't want anything special, so the crew is making do with what's left in the pantry. Thursday's menu includes barbecue beef brisket for some, chicken fajitas for others, and even sweet and sour pork.

Atlantis left the International Space Station on Wednesday. The shuttle dropped off tons of big spare parts.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Disney Turkeys

Highgate Park : More local news from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as President Obama, who seems rather fond of photo ops that get him out of that oval Oval Office, gets the best one of this week today. White House. A backyard table. Two turkeys. Trained (Really!). He spares their lives. Cameras click and roll. Smiles.

The pardoned turkey pair, meanwhile, fly with a sober United Airlines pilot to Orlando to appear in the DisneyWorld holiday parade, for some reason, and spend the rest of their few months of life in well-fed comfort at the resort.

PETA, meanwhile, has petitioned the commander-in-chief to send the creatures instead to an animal sanctuary. And while he's at it, have a vegan Thanksgiving dinner.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

FastPark and Relax

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as FastPark & Relax, a national off-site airport parking company, has just opened a new site at the Orlando International Airport. The new facility, which is located at 7870 North Frontage Road, is ready for the busiest travel week of the year.

After delayed flights, lost luggage and multiple layovers, millions of travelers will be stressed upon arriving at their Thanksgiving destination. Staying true to its name, FastPark & Relax is committed to making the airport parking experience as relaxing as possible, even during the busiest travel period of the year. Not only will customers enjoy 2,000 covered parking spaces, complimentary bottled water and newspapers and complimentary activity books for children, but those traveling Wednesday, November 25th from 10 AM - 12 PM will also enjoy yoga instruction.

FastPark has hired professional yogis from Yogi Matrix to provide yoga instruction and tips at the off-site airport parking facility. All tips will incorporate techniques that passengers can do sitting down whether they are on a FastPark shuttle bus, a plane, at the airport terminal or in their hotel room.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Bass Fishing

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as the University of Florida team of Matthew Wercinski and Jake Gipson both of Niceville, Fla., added to their lead at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Southeast Regional Championship on Lake Monroe Sunday with six bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces for a two-day total of 11 bass weighing 22-5.

Things got a little nicer for the team from Niceville, as they capitalized on their first day finish and now hold a commanding 2 pound, 14 ounce lead over Auburn University. They have also ensured themselves a spot at the National Championship which was one of their goals coming into the tournament.

“The wind definitely affected our fishing today,” said Wercinski, a junior in finance. “I caught my limit before 9 this morning and Jake didn’t get his fish until after 1. It was a tough bite today, I could barely feel the fish on my line, but I was able to take advantage of the opportunity and reel them in early.”

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Disney Rise

Highgate Park : More local news and events from around the Highgate Park Davenport area as Walt Disney World increased rental prices for some frequently used items by between 11 percent and 60 percent. The price of renting a small locker in one of the resort’s four theme parks climbs from $5 per day to $7 per day, up 40 percent. A large locker jumps from $7 to $9, a 29 percent increase.

The price hikes are steeper in Disney’s two water parks. Small lockers rise from $5 to $8, up 60 percent, and large lockers rise from $7 to $10, up 43 percent.

Meanwhile, the cost of renting a wheelchair goes from $10 per day to $12 per day, a 20 percent increase. And the cost of renting one of the resort’s electric scooters goes from $45 per day to $50 per day, an 11 percent increase.

Disney says the refundable deposit charges for wheelchairs and scooters haven’t changed.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Happy Birthday

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as this week marks the official birthday for Mickey Mouse, as it was his first appearance in Steamboat Willie, but this may not be entirely correct, as he also starred in a previous animated short called Plane Crazy.

You can celebrate Mickey’s birthday by visiting the museum in Disney World, Orlando Florida, where you can experience and discover why the world fell in love with the best-known cartoon character.

From the earliest drawings of Mickey, who was originally to be called Mortimer, to special merchandise such as the unique Mickey Mouse ears and Mickey Mouse gloves, and a special section dedicated to the Mickey Mouse Club which launched such stars are Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

New Princess

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as The Walt Disney Co.'s newest princess doesn't arrive in movie theaters until next month, but she is already easy to find at Walt Disney World.

Theme-park guests can meet Princess Tiana and watch her perform in a musical riverboat show. They can buy Tiana dolls, undergo Tiana makeovers, and eat Tiana's Magical Kisses - bite-size, white-chocolate-covered graham crackers. They can even get vouchers for a child's ticket to Tiana's movie.

The in-park promotional blitz, extensive even by Disney standards, is part of a companywide push to pump up "The Princess and the Frog," the animated film that is one of Disney's most important movies in years.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Space Mountain Revamp

Highgate Park : More local news and eventsw from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as more details are emerging about the revamped Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom park. The coaster, remarkably the oldest one operating in Florida, has been closed since spring, and Disney World says it will be open to guests again as of Nov. 22.

Some changes are a new color scheme for the ride’s capsules, line and load areas (paint, carpet, seat fabric and such). Also new technology in the track but preserving the previous feel of the coaster.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

NASA Fuels Shuttle

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as NASA is fueling space shuttle Atlantis for its afternoon liftoff. Atlantis is scheduled to blast off Monday at 2:28 p.m. on a mission to stockpile the International Space Station with big spare parts.

There's now a 70 percent chance that the weather will cooperate, which is not nearly as good as previous days. Low clouds are the main concern. Atlantis' six astronauts woke up around the time fueling got under way Monday well before dawn.

The 11-day flight is expected to keep the astronauts in orbit through Thanksgiving. They plan to unload nearly 30,000 pounds of pumps, tanks and other spare parts, as well as science experiments. It's NASA's last shuttle flight of the year.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

IceBar

Highgate Park : More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport as the IceBar in Orlando sees in its first year of operation. There are a number of ice bars around the world - bars that are literally made out of ice. "There's one in Sweden, two in London, one in Tokyo, another in China, and even one in Africa," said Coi Whiting, general manager of IceBar Orlando.

When the first ice bar opened in the United States, it wasn't in a state with a suitably cold climate that could provide long winter freezes needed to help maintain a bar made entirely of blocks of ice. Instead, it wound up in the most unlikely of places: in subtropical, hot and humid Orlando, more specifically on International Drive.

"There are actually similar bars around, but everywhere else, it's someplace cold," Whiting said. And noting the record-breaking heat in October, he said IceBar Orlando provides locals and tourists alike with an escape from the often-sizzling temperatures, and not just in the main lounge, where the air conditioning is set at 72 degrees.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Tree Festival

Highgate Park : More local news from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area asOrlano celebrates the festival of trees. The Festival of Trees is Central Florida's premier annual holiday event and is orchestrated by the Council of 101 to benefit the Orlando Museum of Art. Since 1986, it provides the community with a truly complete holiday experience.

The museum is transformed into a winter wonderland for nine days in November. Stroll through rooms of dazzling decorated trees, wreaths and vignettes which are available for purchase. The Gingerbread Village, Toyland Town and Christmas Village are great for the young and the young at heart.

Shop at the Holiday Boutique and Holiday Garden or take a break and enjoy some entertainment provided by local area choirs, schools, dance groups, orchestras, a caroling company, a ballet company and individual performers, and visit the Festival Café for lunch or refreshments.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Disney Revamp

Highgate Park : More local news from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as Walt Disney World is about to transform its Wide World of Sports athletic complex to link it with ESPN, the Walt Disney Co.’s cable-sports juggernaut. In a multimillion-dollar rebranding effort, Disney is outfitting the 220-acre venue with dozens of high-definition video cameras and display screens, two jumbotrons, an audio system, and a broadcasting center with a satellite uplink to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

The goal, said Ken Potrock, senior vice president for Disney Sports Enterprises, is to make the 250,000 or so athletes who compete at the facility each year — the vast majority of whom are amateur competitors — “feel like, ‘We’ve made it to the big time. We’ve made it on ESPN.’ “

Disney World hopes the association with ESPN — one of the best-known sports brands on the planet — will help it lure larger and more varied athletic events to Wide World of Sports, which the resort opened in 1997 as a way to drive new traffic to its theme parks and hotels. Disney says it annually draws nearly 2 million athletes, coaches, family members and spectators to its sports facilities, including Wide World of Sports and five golf courses.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

New Skate Park

Highgate Park : More local news from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as Daytona Beach Skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers will soon have a new place to "bust some sessions." Daytona Beach is slated to open its first municipal skate park Saturday morning at Bethune Point Park.

The $800,000 facility at 101 Bellevue Ave. will offer 35,000 square feet of street obstacles, ramps, a bowl, quarter pipe and a "street clam," according to city officials. On Saturday, a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. will be followed by an exhibition, competition and open skating.

The facility will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Skaters 17 years old and younger will be required to wear helmets as well as knee and elbow pads, city officials say. Also, BMX bikes must be equipped with park pegs and riders must wear certified bike helmets.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Film Festival

Highgate Park : More local news from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as this week sees the annual Orlando Film Festival. At last the Orlando Film Festival has a new permanent home — no more movies shown in spaces better suited for furniture storage. For this, its fourth year, the OFF will be in the new Plaza Cinema Cafe.

"It was the vision from the beginning," says festival chairman and co-founder M. Brett Jaffee, "our mission is to support the cause of independent cinema and to promote culture and the arts in Downtown Orlando by exposing a wide audience to the unique and diverse stories told by independent filmmakers from around the world."

Actress-turned-director Cheryl Hines, a woman with UCF and Orlando ties, will be here to show her movie, Serious Moonlight. A couple of animated film discussions and parties are part of the lineup.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Sea World Increase

More local news and events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as SeaWorld Orlando is joining other Orlando theme parks and raising its base ticket price to almost $80.

The base price of a one-day ticket to SeaWorld will rise $4 to $78.95. The move brings SeaWorld's base price to just 5 cents less than single-day, single-park tickets to Disney or Universal, both of which raised their own prices over the summer.

The resort also will reduce the price of its popular "Fun Cards," which allow Florida residents to make repeated visits to the park with the purchase of a single-day ticket.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services

Orlando Food and Wine Festival

More local news and events from around the Highgate Park Davenport area as The Orlando Food and Wine Fest returns to Downtown Orlando November 14th and 15th! A festival that will celebrate great food, great wine, and great entertainment.

Over 35 of Orlando's top restaurants. The very popular Sports bar where you can watch your favorite collegiate and pro sports games. The Metro PCS Main Stage featuring two days of live entertainment and national recording artists. The Brighthouse Chef's Stage with seminars and cooking demonstrations. Vendors, multiple wine stations, beverage stations and more.

The setting will be Robinson Street along Lake Eola from Rosalind to Eola Drive. This wide boulevard offers plenty of room for strolling in a picturesque setting bordering Lake Eola Park. This year you will be able to sprawl out into the north side of lake Eola park and enjoy your food and beverage.

The MetroPCS Entertainment stage will feature all of the musical performances, and will be located in the northeast corner of the park, at the corner of Eola and Robinson.

Dates & Time: Saturday, November 14th from 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Sunday, November 15th from 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney
Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Driven By : SEO Services